Naver-Dunamu merger heads to board vote, poised to form fintech powerhouse

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Naver’s planned merger with Dunamu, the operator of cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, is gaining traction amid a shifting regulatory climate — potentially clearing the way for one of the most significant tie-ups in Korea’s fintech history. According to industry officials, Naver Financial and Dunamu will convene board meetings on Nov. 26 to approve a proposed stock swap that would effectively combine the two companies under a single corpo

November 20, 2025

Passenger ferry pulled off after running aground

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - A passenger ferry that ran aground on an uninhabited islet off the southwestern coast overnight was brought to a nearby port early Thursday morning, about nine hours after the accident. According to coastguards, the 26,000-ton ferry Queen Zenobia II, was pulled off by four tugboats at around 5:40 a.m. in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, after all 246 passengers and 21 crew members on board were safely rescued. The vessel departed from the southern resort i

November 20, 2025

Samsung narrowly steals back No. 1 DRAM rank from SK hynix Q3- CFM

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung Electronics has narrowly reclaimed its No. 1 rank in global DRAM sales in the third quarter after yielding the position to its home rival SK hynix in the first half for the first time amid the surge in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) demand. The shift underscores rapidly strengthening DRAM prices due to frantic stockpiling of memory chips that power servers and a wide range of electronic devices, driven by fears of supply shortages as manufac

November 20, 2025

AI becomes centerpiece of South Korea's military strategy

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s defense industry is increasingly positioning itself at the forefront of the global arms race, leaning heavily on artificial intelligence to offset shrinking troop numbers and to adapt to fast-changing warfare technologies. The shift has drawn in some of the country’s most powerful semiconductor companies, deepening ties between its tech and defense sectors. Industry officials say the military has begun widening its defense

November 20, 2025

Putin's obsession with empire must end

History occasionally presents moments when the world can see, with exceptional clarity, who is pushing it toward chaos and who is pulling it back from the brink. Today, that contrast is unmistakable. Donald Trump—despite the controversies surrounding him, despite the anger his tariff wars still provoke—has stunned the world by helping open a path toward a calmer Middle East. His aggressive pressure on Iran’s proxies and his unflinching stance against Hamas ha

November 20, 2025

Lee arrives in Cairo for talks with Egyptian President

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Cairo on Wednesday after wrapping up his itinerary in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week. Lee is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the two leaders are expected to discuss expanding trade and cultural cooperation as the two countries mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. Lee will then deliver a speech at Cairo University, where he will outline South Korea's policy and

November 20, 2025

OPINION: How Korea's medical obsession is undermining its AI aspirations

As the era of artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, one reality has become impossible to ignore: South Korea is falling behind in the race for talent. While other nations aggressively cultivate scientists, engineers and researchers, South Korea continues to funnel many of its brightest students into medical schools — an imbalance that risks undermining the country’s long-term competitiveness. The contrast was laid bare in a KBS documentary that aired

November 20, 2025

Blue Dragon Awards: Power couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin make history with dual acting wins

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) -South Korea’s star couple Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin made history at the 46th Blue Dragon Awards, becoming the first married pair to win Best Actor and Best Actress on the same night. Their milestone moment lit up the ceremony at KBS Hall in Seoul on Wednesday, where actors Han Ji-min and Lee Je-hoon served as hosts for the live broadcast. The night otherwise belonged to “No Other Choice,” which swept major categories including

November 20, 2025

Saewol ferry-like tragedy avoided as no casualties reported in a South Korean ferry disaster

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - All 267 passengers and crew aboard the Queen Jenuvia II were safely rescued by 11 p.m. Wednesday, within hours after the 26,546-ton ferry ran aground near an uninhabited rock islet off South Korea’s southwestern coast as the Coast Guard rushed to the scene, mindful of preventing any repeat of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people. The ferry, carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members, struck Jok Islet near Jangsan Island

November 20, 2025

Asian shares finish broadly lower as AI-bubble anxiety persist

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Asian stocks edged lower for a second straight session on Wednesday, with investors remaining cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and the growing “AI bubble” narrative that has weighed on sentiment across the region. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.61 percent to 3,929.51, recovering part of its earlier plunge after falling as low as 3,854.95 in morning trade. Foreign investors sold a net 1.04 trillion won ($709 million)

November 19, 2025